BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — UC San Diego baseball topped Cal State Bakersfield, 15-2, on Sunday afternoon at Hardt Field. The Tritons' (22-25, 16-11 Big West) tallied 14 hits and took advantage of four Roadrunners (22-30, 10-17 Big West) errors to take the finale and secure the series, 2-1. With the win, the Tritons guaranteed themselves a spot in the Big West Championship tournament later this month.
Ten different Tritons drove in at least one run in the contest.
Gabe Camacho finished with three hits, scoring three runs and recording one RBI.
J.C. Allen added three RBI and collected three hits as well, including a double, while
Alex Leopard drove in two runs and crossed the plate twice.
Anthony Potestio recorded two hits and scored twice, while
Addison Klepsch drew two walks and recorded an RBI and two runs scored.
Delshaun Lanier also recorded a multi-hit game with two hits and one run scored.
Nathan Ries started the game for UC San Diego, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out two.
Austin Bowker (4-1) followed with 2.0 scoreless innings of no-hit relief, issuing one walk.
Julian Cazares,
Kayden Henson and
Trevor Rector each contributed an inning, with Cazares and Henson not allowing any hits or runs, and Henson striking out two. Rector allowed one run on one hit, concluding the Tritons' pitching performance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego opened the scoring in the first inning with a strong start. Potestio singled to center field and Klepsch walked before Allen's double to left center brought home both runners. An error allowed Allen to score, giving the Tritons an early 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, the Roadrunners managed to get on the board. A walk and a single placed runners on the corners, and a caught stealing allowed a run to score, closing the gap to 3-1 after three innings.
UC San Diego regained momentum in the fourth inning when Camacho and Allen both singled, and Leopard's RBI single brought in a run.
Trevian Martinez's double down the line scored another, and a sacrifice bunt by
Nick Costello extended the lead to 6-1.
The eighth inning saw the Tritons add to their lead. A hit-by-pitch to both Klepsch and Camacho set the stage for Allen's single, scoring Klepsch. Leopard grounded out, but it was enough to bring Camacho home, making it 8-1.
The ninth inning featured an offensive explosion from the Tritons. Lanier and
Thomas Maher reached base, setting up Potestio's single to load the bases. Klepsch walked, forcing in a run, and a rocket by Camacho to right field scored two more.
Raphael Dunne and
Cal Elvis each contributed with an RBI single and hit-by-pitch, respectively.
Bryan Bradshaw's single and Maher's sacrifice fly completed the seven-run inning.
The Roadrunners added one more run in their half, but the Tritons secured a decisive victory with a final score of 15-2.
TRITON TIDBITS
- With the win, the Tritons clinched a berth to the Big West Championship later this month in Irvine.
- The Tritons used five pitchers in the contest, including Nathan Ries, Austin Bowker, Julian Cazares, Kayden Henson and Trevor Rector.
- UC San Diego is now 12-7 in the all-time series with Cal State Bakersfield and 2-1 this season.
UP NEXT
UC San Diego will return home for the final week of the regular season, playing host to Cal State Fullerton for three games beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ and live statistics will be available via UCSDTritons.com.
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program began a new era in 2020 as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have earned prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among institutions in NCAA Division I or II.
